That past year has completely changed the way we do a lot of things: including our skincare and make-up habits. Long gone are the days of heavy foundations and carefully drawn on eyeliner flicks (although let’s be honest, we still adore them for a fancy night out) and in are lighter bases, decent moisturisers and anything that gives us a bit of a glow.
With that in mind we thought we’d round up the best tinted moisturisers the internet has to offer – they’re perfect for hot weather, most contain some level of SPF and are great every-day products that blur the line between skincare and make-up. Dreamy if you want to continue a low maintenance make-up routine after lockdown.
So, without too much waffling on, these are the best-rated tinted moisturisers online…
BOOTS – Olay’s Complete BB Cream SPF15
Out of all the budget brands on offer, it was Olay’s Complete BB Cream SPF15 which was most popular. Those who reviewed it said they loved the balance of coverage, moisturising qualities and the glow it emitted after use. The downside? It only appears come in two shades: Fair and Medium making it not particularly inclusive.
How much? £11.99 for 50ml.
SUPERDRUG – Garnier BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser
Out of the under-£10 tinted mosturisers, there’s only two products that have a hype around them, and depending on where you look, one always scrapes just higher in the reviews than the other. So, at neck and neck, is Garnier’s BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser and Nivea’s Tinted Moisturising Cream. The Nivea is cheaper, both have just two shade options and the Garnier one also comes in an anti-ageing version too. Both equally as good as each other.
How much? £9.99 for 50ml (or £3.99 for the Nivea one).
CULT BEAUTY – Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter
Described as a ‘glow booster’, Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter is iconic in beauty circles and often dubbed as one of the brand’s hero products. It has almost 300 reviews on Cult Beauty (and is just shy of the full-five stars), and works make-up magic to minimise skin imperfections whilst giving off one hell of a glow. No SPF in this one, and it comes in 12 shades.
How much? £34 for 30ml.
LOOK FANTASTIC – Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
Another product that’s been recommended so many times online by influencers, beauty editors and friends – it has one heck of a cult following. Nars’s tinted moisturiser not only contains a wonderful SPF 30, but it also help to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It’s oil-free, so perhaps a good one for oily or easily-congested skin. It’s light on the skin and feels as though you haven’t got make-up on, in a good way!
How much? £31 for 50ml.
SPACE NK – Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 by Chantecaille
Honestly? Nars was actually the best-rated tinted moisturiser by about two reviews, but Chantecaille’s super-luxe product scooped second place. At £72m it’s definitely an investment, but those who left reviews said it gave them natural, illuminated skin. It also has SPF15 as a bonus, and is incredibly moisturising.
How much? £72 for 50ml.
JOHN LEWIS – Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF30
An absolute classic in the world of tinted moisturisers, and with a legion of fans since it launched in 1996, Laura Mercier’s infamous product stole to top-spot by a mile at John Lewis. It was relaunched two years ago, but those who love it say it offers good coverage and feels incredibly light on the skin.
How much? £35 for 50ml.
HANNAH – bareMinerals Complexion Rescue
Honestly? I move between two tinted moisturisers because they’re both so different. For most of lockdown, bareMinerals’ Complexion Rescue has been my bae – it’s super light-weight, incredibly hydrating and perfect for days when I want low-coverage (it also scrapes into 2nd/3rd place in the reviews of a lot of the websites mentioned in this post). But my all-round fave, which is perfect for glowy skin, medium coverage and a ‘your skin but better’ vibe, is IT Cosmetics’ CC Cream – technically a bit heavier than a standard tinted moisturiser, but still lighter than a classic foundation.
How much? bareMinerals is £30 for 35ml whilst IT Cosmetics is £32.50 for 30ml.
GEMMA – Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Sheer Oil-Free SPF20
I’ve never been a foundation gal — tinted moisturiser is my jam. For almost a decade, I was fiercely loyal to Laura Mercier and can attest to the five-star reviews, so when they discontinued my shade I was devastated. I tried a few newbies – Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue was a definite contender and I actually wore it on my wedding day – before Hannah got me onto the IT Cosmetic’s CC cream. I love it, but my latest tube happened to run out right around the time I was doing a Beauty Pie order, and for £6.73 (the Beauty Pie member price) I couldn’t resist taking a punt on their tinted moisturiser. Buying a base you’ve never tried before online is notoriously tricky, but Beauty Pie has a handy shade finder tool where you put in the name of the brand you’re currently using and they’ll suggest their closest shade. The product is ultra-lightweight, feels really hydrating and gives you a gorgeous dewy glow – essentially nailing that “no make-up make-up” vibe. For the price and size (it’s almost 20ml bigger than IT’s CC cream) it’ll be a regular on my BP order during the summer, but I reckon when autumn arrived I’ll crave the extra coverage IT’s CC offers – I also wish the SPF was higher than 20 and that the shade range was more inclusive.
How much? £6.73 for Beauty Pie members, £28 for non-members.
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